SEC basketball: Vols' Tyler Smith wants to make mark

Tyler Smith said he wants his name to be included with other star Tennessee players such as Allan Houston, Bernard King and Chris Lofton. Head coach Bruce Pearl thinks he has the talent to achieve it.

Amy Smotherman Burgess/Knoxville News Sentinel

BIRMINGHAM -- Tennessee men's basketball coach Bruce Pearl recently had what he called an interview with his star player, junior Tyler Smith, who was recently tabbed as the media's choice for Southeastern Conference Preseason Player of the Year.

Pearl said he often conducts these interviews with his players. He asked Smith an open-ended question -- ''What are you worried about?'' -- a question Pearl said evokes a wide array of responses, everything from their family members back home, to how they're doing in school.

But Pearl got an interesting, yet unexpected, answer from Smith.

''Tyler's worried about making his mark on Tennessee basketball,'' Pearl said. ''He said, 'I want to make my mark.' I said, 'Tyler, you just won the league outright for the first time in 41 years. You don't think you made your mark? You came home. All that you went through last year.' He said, 'No I haven't.'

"So he's hungry to make his mark on Tennessee basketball. I was very pleased, and proud that's what he's worried about.''

Smith said when you think of Tennessee basketball, you think of players like Allan Houston, Bernard King, Ernie Grunfeld, Dale Ellis, Ron Slay and last year's teammate, Chris Lofton.

When Smith is done playing at Tennessee, which very well could be after this season, he wants his name to be included.

''You think of Tennessee basketball, those are the guys that pop in your head," Smith said. ''I think I have a ways to go to get there because of the accomplishments those guys had. But I want to be mentioned with those guys.''

The Pulaski, Tenn., native who transferred from Iowa prior to last season was the Vols' third-leading scorer at 13.6 points per game. He led the team in rebounding (6.7), assists (3.4) and field goal percentage (.536).

After leading Tennessee to the NCAA Tournament, where the Vols lost a Sweet 16 game against Louisville, 79-60, Smith flirted with the jumping to the NBA. Early mock drafts had the 6-7 forward as a mid-first rounder, flirting with a late lottery selection. But as time went on, his name began slipping toward the end of the first round and even into the second round.

A frustrated Smith decided to return to Tennessee, but not before Pearl helped him understand why his stock dropped.

''The answer was just the skills, particularly his perimeter game,'' Pearl said. ''I think that was the last piece. He drives it to the basket. He scores with his back to the basket. He defends inside and out.''

Since his decision, Smith has been focused on doing whatever it takes to get the Vols to build on last year's success. Despite five newcomers, Tennessee is picked to defend its SEC championship.

But Smith wants more. He wants a trip to the Elite Eight, something Tennessee has never done. He wants a Final Four appearance. And he wants to play for the national championship.

But first, as a returning veteran, he knows it's his responsibility to help the younger players get through an ambitious schedule, which is tabbed by most as the toughest in the country, featuring non-conference games against Temple, Marquette, Kansas, Gonzaga and Memphis.

''We're still young," Smith said. ''I think we've got to work on being prepared for the first of the season before we really think about the tournament. Because we're so young and none of these guys have played a college basketball game yet, that's what we're working towards, to try to get ready for the season.''

But if Smith can help bring the newcomers along, there's reason to believe the Vols will have a lot to celebrate in their 100th season of basketball.